Transport of cattle under inhumane conditions irks animal lovers

The frequent sight of cattle being transported under inhumane conditions on Tirupur city roads is becoming an eyesore and the act is hurting animal lovers.

During the morning hours, one can see even carrier auto rickshaws and smaller-sized vans laden with large number of cattle, without adhering to the stipulations mentioned under Transportation of Animals rules, through the city.

Barring a few interceptions of such vehicles in the peripherals of Tirupur city by animal activists who then handed over the cattle and trucks to the police, many of the vehicles were able to ply through the city, passing multiple traffic points without getting ‘noticed’ by the authorities.

According to animal welfare activists, most of the cattle are taken for trade in places near the market situated in the southern side of the city after being purchased from farmers who sell the surplus cattle due to the rising difficulty in getting fodder and because of the escalation in maintenance costs.

“We are also having information from sources that cattle are slaughtered in the city and outskirts despite the ban on slaughtering that exists in the State,” they said.

Overloaded

Asha Krishnakumar, an animal welfare activist, told The Hindu that during the recent interceptions of the vehicles by activists it had come to their notice that trucks were stuffed with very large number of cattle even though only six cattle were permitted in a truck.

“Even those six cattle have to be given adequate space and be provided with padding around the sides to prevent them from getting injured,” she said.

More importantly, the cattle should be allowed to board a vehicle for transportation only after obtaining a fitness certificate from a veterinary surgeon stating that the cattle did not have an infectious disease, which is not usually followed by the cattle transporters, activists pointed out.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R. Thirunavukkarasu said checks would be intensified to punish the people who transport cattle in inhumane conditions.